Traxler H G
Public Health Rep. 1982 Nov-Dec;97(6):537-44.
Descriptive and econometric analysis of the major nonquality determinants of nursing home costs for Florida shows that mean costs, size, and occupancy rate increased between 1971 and 1976, that per diem costs and occupancy rate were inversely related, and that the per diem cost was lower in rural than in urban areas. Regression of the data shows that--next to inflation, as expressed by the Consumer Price Index--the occupancy rate accounts for most of the variation in per diem costs, followed by size, urban-rural location, and by type of control. The hypothetical "optimal," defined as lowest cost-size range, was calculated to be more than 350 beds. Recent research substantiates most of these findings. Medicaid Cost Reports from Florida's nursing homes were the source of the information analyzed; by 1976, the sixth year of the study, the data base covered nearly 9 of 10 licensed beds in the State. Some policy implications can be drawn from the analysis. Reductions in per diem costs could be achieved by higher occupancy rates, especially in the larger nursing homes, and a reduction in the rate of inflation would reduce the rate of increase in nursing home costs.
对佛罗里达州养老院成本的主要非质量决定因素进行的描述性和计量经济学分析表明，1971年至1976年间，平均成本、规模和入住率有所增加，每日成本与入住率呈负相关，且农村地区的每日成本低于城市地区。数据回归显示，除了以消费者价格指数表示的通货膨胀外，入住率是每日成本变化的主要因素，其次是规模、城乡位置和控制类型。假设的“最优”（定义为最低成本规模范围）计算得出超过350张床位。近期研究证实了其中大部分发现。佛罗里达州养老院的医疗补助成本报告是所分析信息的来源；到1976年，即研究的第六年，数据库涵盖了该州近十分之九的许可床位。分析可得出一些政策启示。提高入住率，尤其是在较大型养老院中，可降低每日成本，而通货膨胀率的降低将减少养老院成本的增长速度。
